Tammy Anderson-Owens, Broker/Owner

I realize that with all the media and talk about the economy that it can sometimes be tough to look on the bright side of things but we have to to survive. I decided to give a few tips to help if you are having trouble.

1. Make a poster board with your dreams and goals on it. Put it somewhere where you see it all the time. Focus on those things that you want and keep thinking about them. Don't think about how you aren't going to get them - Focus on how you are!!

2. Learn from "The Secret" - Find something, anything; some sort of token and keep it with you at all times. Put it in your pocket and every time you touch it think about how thankful you are to have what you have in life.

3. Before you go to sleep at night, write down all the good that happened in your day and the things that you are thankful for. Look at it first think in the morning.

4. Smile - Even if you don't want to! Sing - Even if you can't carry a tone! Dance - Even if you have two left feet! Laugh - Even if you want to cry!

It will help change your whole attitude when your body sends a different message to your brain

5. Be around people that make you happy, stay away from people that make you unhappy. Hang out with people you want to be like, stay away from people you hope to never be!

6. If the news is getting you down - TURN IT OFF! Don't turn it on first thing in the morning unless you need to see the traffic. Do not start your day off on a bad note!

7. Get up and move! Exercise! I don't mean you have to run a marathon but at least walk for 15 minutes a day - It will change your mood - I promise!

8. Now that you have moved - STOP! Meditate, rest quietly for a few minutes to reflect on the positive. Think of something beautiful and peaceful.

9. Spend time with the ones you love. Make the time to do it, don't put it off!

10. Think about what you want out of life, now focus on it and keep focusing on it, IT WILL COME IF YOU HAVE THE FAITH! Never "TRY" (as my awesome coach often tells me) trying is an excuse for not getting it done! DO IT!

If you do these 10 things everyday you will be amazed at how your life will improve! Try it - What do you have to lose?

Tammy Anderson-Owens

& The "Metro East Home Team"

RE/MAX Preferred

(618) 581-8729

http://www.MetroEastLiving.com

I never dreamed that I would be affected by cancer of any kind, not at 42 years old anyway. I want to share my story as it is important to be diligent in self checks and clinical exams. I'm not one to run to the physician for much so it wasn't surprising that I was 42 years old I hadn't taken the time to get a mammogram. My mother called my doctor and scheduled the appointment for me. On April 2, 2005 I turned 42 years old, on April 6th, I went in for my mammogram. The following day they called and said I needed to come back because they saw something unusual on the film. I really didn't think too much about it and scheduled my follow-up. I was rushing around and didn't have time for anyone to go with me as I had several appointments that day. I went into the little dressing room, changed into my designer gown and waited for my name to be called. The wait was long and I was felling a bit fidgety. I picked up a brochure on breast cancer and started reading it. Finally, they called me in for my ultrasound. I watched as the technician clicked here and there measuring something on the screen. She left the room and came back in with the radiologist who informed me that I had a large mass and needed to see a surgeon immediately. "Excuse me" you're kidding right? No he wasn't and after coming back to the outpatient room after the surgical biopsy and barely coming to my doctor came in, sat down in a chair with a very serious look on his face and informed me, my husband and my parents that he was 99% sure it was cancer. He told us to come see him in his office the following week and he would have the results from the lab and we would come up with our game plan then. That was the longest week of my life! I had to tell my children that their mother had cancer. I hope none of you ever have to do that! I then had to wait another month to schedule a right mastectomy. We did a lot of praying in that month! I do have to say that with my great friends and family, we had food that could have fed an army. It took another two months for me to start chemo. I was very fortunate as I was only Stage I and my survival rate was good but we still wanted to attack it full force. I did four rounds of chemotherapy. Not fun, doable but not fun. After my second treatment I remember driving to the grocery store and we had the windows in the car open. My youngest was sitting in the backseat and said my hair was blowing all around. That was the start of a week long torture of my hair falling out. Finally, I asked my nephew to come over and shave my head. He did and we laughed and had a great time. (I cried like a baby when I got home) It was done, my hair was gone and it was much better that way. I loved my wig! I hated my wig! I loved my bandannas, I hated my bandannas. It was so much easier getting ready in the morning when I didn't have to fix my hair but that thing was hot! The chemo kicked my butt and I am happy to say 3 years later -

IT WAS WORTH IT! I am here today to tell my story, I was at my son's high school graduation and I will be at my youngest son's graduation too! I am always more than happy to share my story with anyone. If you know someone that has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer, please feel free to have them contact me. I had cancer, Cancer didn't have me!! Breast cancer is not a death sentence!!

Please, see your doctor regularly and do your self checks often, the life you are saving is your own!

Great Links for more information and support:

http://cms.komen.org

http://www.cancer.org

Tammy Anderson-Owens
RE/MAX Preferred
618-581-8729

http://www.MetroEastHomeTeam.com

FHA Loans aren't just for first time home buyers.

"I can't get a FHA loan, I'm not a first time home buyer" This is a misconception that I have found many people to have.

FHA stands for "Federal Housing Administration"

What is the Federal Housing Administration?

They provide mortgage insurance on loans made by approved lenders. FHA was created in 1934 to help spark the housing industry, in the 50's, 60's and 70's they helped with apartments for elderly, handicapped and lower income individuals. In the 80's they helped to even out falling home prices and helped homebuyers to get financing. They are on a comeback after several years of the housing boom today.

What is an FHA Loan?

A FHA loan is insured against default by the FHA. FHA guarantees that a lender won't have to write off a loan if the borrower defaults. With this guarantee lenders are willing to take a risk on the borrower.

Who can get an FHA Loan?

Just about anybody that meets FHA requirements. Even if you own a home right now and you sell and purchase a new home, you can get a FHA loan. Typically you can only have one FHA loan at a time but there are exceptions to that rule too.

What are the Benefits of a FHA Loan?

FHA loans allow borrowers to buy a home with a low down payment and sometimes that can even be a gift from a family member! There is no prepayment penalty; some may be assumable and possible leniency during financial hard times.

Drawbacks of a FHA Loan

They have limits on purchase price *see below. Sometimes with good credit and money down you can find more competitive offers. Always compare your options!

FHA Loan Amounts for single family homes- taken from FHA website on 09/23/08

Madison County, Illinois - 281,250

St Clair County, Illinois - 281.250

If you would like more information on purchasing a home, please contact me!

Tammy Anderson-Owens

RE/MAX Preferred

(618) 581-8729

http://www.MetroEastLiving.com

If you ask someone that question you could get a variety of answers. The truth is that Collinsville, Illinois is jumping! Within the last couple of years this community has seen a great deal of growth both residential and commercial. With Collinsville Crossings Development some were worried about the Belt Line and Lakeside Plaza but watch out! We are currently building out a space next to Communication Concepts and expect to be moved in by November 1st. Club Fitness has recently opened and seem to be doing a booming business. With the strong possibility of Kohl's building at the old Wal-Mart site, Lakeside Plaza will be vibrant as usual. Then there is the downtown area which if you haven't seen the plan, you should make it a point to! Collinsville is the community to be in and I am excited to be a part of it.

OK, this one touches a nerve with me. I am a Realtor and have wonderful listing in Collinsville that had someone interested in it. I called the buyer today to ask if she and her husband wanted to go back through the home. She said "No, we've decided we don't want to be in Collinsville School District" ARRRGGG!! Let me explain a few things - Yes, Collinsville school's may have a slight lower score on the standardized testing, Yes, they may have a few more incidents that make the newspaper but let's look at the entire picture here! We will just start with the High School because that's where I hear the most concerns. As parents, our main objective when our children reach this age is to either get them prepared for higher education or to get them ready to go out in the world. Collinsville High School does a great job in both of these areas.

Academically, I feel Collinsville High School can't be beat! If you take the top 25% of the students here and have them compete with the top 25% of any other school around I guarantee they would rank as high or higher than the rest. Collinsville High School has 14 different Advanced Placement Classes and even more College Prep Classes. The kids take a final exam at the end of the Advanced Placement Classes and if they do well enough they receive college credit for those classes. They have four different foreign languages to choose from including 4 full years of Latin! There aren't many schools around that can say that. Collinsville High School along with the Middle School offer a website called Edline. This is where students can log on from home or anywhere and check their assignments. Parents can check notes from the teachers, progress, grades and attendance. My own son often teases that I know when he is tardy before he does. This is a wonderful tool to keep up with the kids in the hectic world that we live in. The students even have a database that they can access their work and documents from home.

Collinsville Area Vocational Center is a wonderful stepping stone for those kids that want to learn a skill anywhere from arranging flowers to fixing a fender on a car. They build an entire house over the course of two years and I will speak as a real estate professional, they are some of the best built homes on the market! Last year 275 students from the Vocational Center received more that 950 hours of college credit through SWIC.

Interested in Extra Curricular Activities? Collinsville has it all! If your child is interested in Sports, Collinsville High School has many to pick from including baseball, basketball (boys and girls), bowling (boys and girls), cheerleading, cross country (boys and girls), football, golf (boys and girls), Pom Pons/Dance, Soccer (boys and girls), softball, tennis (boys and girls), track and field (boys and girls), volleyball and wrestling! If sports are not of interest there is an abundance of clubs and activities to help prepare these kids for life! Some of those include American Field Service, Art Club, Astronomy Club, Christians in Action, Class Executive Boards, Chess Club, DECA, Computer Club, French, Spanish, German and Latin Clubs, Yearbook Club and much much more. Collinsville High School has one of the finest Band and Choirs in the state. There is something for every single student to get involved in at Collinsville High School.

So please; the next time you hear someone spreading untrue rumors about our wonderful high school; please make sure you let them know that Collinsville is truly the "High School of Champions" and these kids come out of school knowing how to succeed in the real world and how to deal with all kinds of people! Quit blaming the schools and realize that learning starts at home and as parents we need be involved and participate in our children's education. We have wonderful administrators in this district and the future of Collinsville Schools is very bright!

Tammy Anderson-Owens
RE/MAX Preferred
618-581-8729

http://www.MetroEastHomeTeam.com